There are still no major recycling programs in Greece, by that I mean roadside, which is pretty important in major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki.
After living in country villages for two years, I was so hesitant to come to Thessaloniki, remembering the huge trash nightmare that was Athens. Trash just piled on the corners around the mini dumpsters. Obviously not enough mini dumpsters for the neighborhood, but even so, it was amazing how much trash people could generate daily.
How refreshing it is that on our block here in Thessaloniki there are several trash bins all along the street, the garbage truck picks it up once a day, and we rarely have trash problems (aside from the trash my husband I generated when we moved in a month ago!).
Life in Canada sounds really good, aside from a jerky neighbor trying to get your poor Buster in trouble. Unlike you, we just moved from suburbia to the city - its been a month now, and I am not sure I like it. We still have a car, and having a car in the city is sooo not fun. We were fortunate we had a place to park after coming back from our IKEA shopping trip on Saturday. IKEA is a great store, but in Greece it has to cater to the whole northern half the country plus the northern border countries. Busy, busy place.
Anyway, been enjoying reading about all your adventures. Always nice reading other ex-pat experiences.
Ha. I'm glad you are continuing your blog now that you have moved to Canada. I just love reading about your reactions to our "Canadian" lifestyle.
Happy Labour Day!
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:44:00 PM
Anonymous said...
It's not boring at all to hear about recycling and attitudes toward it in Canada. It even sounds kind of exciting. A friend of mine who moved from DC to New Minas, Nova Scotia also went on and on about the very efficient Canadian recycling system. She couldn't get over it and always mentions it as one of the reasons she'll probably never move back to the US.
I'm glad you are continuing your blog now that you have moved to Canada. I just love reading about your reactions to our "Canadian" lifestyle.
Thanks, Jubileee! I think the blog is more important than ever now - for me, that is. I've got to process this whole thing somehow.
It's not boring at all to hear about recycling and attitudes toward it in Canada.
Cool. :) Thanks Dean.
A friend of mine who moved from DC to New Minas, Nova Scotia also went on and on about the very efficient Canadian recycling system. She couldn't get over it and always mentions it as one of the reasons she'll probably never move back to the US.
It's quite amazing so far. Despite my joking, I'm very pleased to be a part of it.
Monday, September 05, 2005 3:34:00 PM
Anonymous said...
Hamilton has gone recycling mad!!! I have three full blue boxes each week now. We are a family of four and we only have one bag of garbage some weeks. Now we are starting a composting bin campaign too. Pretty soon there won't be anything left to throw in the garbage.
Not boring at all, and not exactly the same as the Toronto system. We can put out six bags, and there's no tag system. We alternate, putting out recyclables one week, ordinary garbage the next. The green bin is picked up every week; it contains "wet" garbage like food scraps, used kleenex, paper coffee cups, diapers and kitty litter. It's an incredible system.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but Toronto is not all that representative of all of Canada. Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers. They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws.
We're also not too good about recycling out here in Calgary. We do have recycling depots, but no curbside pick-up.
Monday, September 05, 2005 8:40:00 PM
Anonymous said...
"Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers. They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws."
Wrong Wrong & wrong again
There is no smoking in any Montreal resterants , we put all our rec. in one bin thats is picked up ever other friday & most people like anywhere clean there dogs shit.
Alberta give me a break eh look ya yahoh you got me sticking up for the french. Toronto may not be represent all of Canada but Alberta represens Canada as a fart in the bath tub.Little bubel with alot of stink.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but Toronto is not all that representative of all of Canada.
Indeed :)
Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers.
From what I know of Montreal, that seems right.
They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws.
Yeah, New Yorkers have had to cope with people telling them to clean up their pooch poop, put their garbage in separate containers, and stop smoking in bars. And they've adjusted - just like the good people in Montreal - but not without a lot of squabbling. There's little sense of "this is for the public good, so we do it".
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:48:00 AM
Anonymous said...
Im Sorry Ma
(but he started it)
"They're also not big on anti-smoking laws."
They are us.
Ps I wanted to tell you guys about my faverot spot in the big smoke(great place to walk your dogzilla). take the 401 to Kennady then go left on the first main street its called Ellsmere.Go one more main street to Brimly take a right. When you hit the lake your there. Bluffers Park ,if you havent been there you guys will love it.Sorry for the bad spelling
Dave, I lived in Montreal for a lot longer than I've lived in Alberta. My wife is a native Montrealaise. I'm not blowing smoke. If things have improved there since I left, I apologize. On the other hand, much of the charm of Montreal was the "take this law and shove it mentality".
Another favourite spot is The Beaches, home of the Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival every summer. Also the home of Ed's Ice Cream, a great ice cream shop in the tradition of the old Steve's and Herrell's ice cream shops in Boston.
All good places for a change of scene for dog walking. They all have off-leash areas as well.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:05:00 AM
Anonymous said...
It is amazing to have been here for all the changes . We still have alot to do but we will get there.
"On the other hand, much of the charm of Montreal was the "take this law and shove it mentality".
Rob I now what you mean about that take this law and shove it mentality& I hate it. PAY OUR TAXES YA CHEETING BUGGERS. (sorry 4 yelling) as 4 that wobaliepop blogger & his tuting bathtub just good old Canadian teesing we love ya baby How long have you been gone?
James my man 2 words Edwards Gardens (yorkmills & leslie)truly the best parks I have ever romed.
I moved to Montreal in '89, left in '98, did my grad studies at McGill and picked up a wife along the way. I still go back for a week every year to visit the in-laws (just got back in fact). I love Montreal. The rest of Quebec? Not so much.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:42:00 AM
Anonymous said...
"The rest of Quebec? " Theres monsters in them hills infact I dont like to go east of StDanie st.. Scarry places .
I so hope Montreal changes to the point where McGill grads & there familys decied to stay here.We need proffectional types now.
Theres monsters in them hills infact I dont like to go east of StDanie st.. Scarry places .
I was a unilingual anglo and I lived there during the last referendum, those places were scary. If it wasn't for the 'Spos, I'd never have crossed St. Denis.
If I spoke French, I probably would have stayed, but there was no future for me there then and there's no future for me there now.
Besides, Montreal summers are too hot and humid. The Prairie air agrees with me.
All good places for a change of scene for dog walking. They all have off-leash areas as well.
Ah, but you're thinking of a normal dog. If an area is good for dogwalking, that means we have to avoid it.
Buster can never, ever be off his leash, but perhaps Allan will discover a great off-leash area and take Cody Brown for a spin, as he did in our old neighborhood.
Thanks for the tips on Beaches and ice cream. :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:37:00 AM
Anonymous said...
Rob: "and picked up a wife along the way."
ROFLMAO
Sorry, but the way u said that just brightened my day!
But yes out in Alberta our recycling really does suck... except for one city, Edmonton.
They have implemented a bluebox program that actually makes money now and takes pretty much everything. I don't know very many details, because I don't live there. But a friend of mine does and he says they have really got a good system going that uses a mix of Public and private organizations to get the job done well and within budget. I am looking around for a more detailed outline of their system.
Sadly down South in Lethbridge we have to go to depots to recycle, so a lot of people don't out of lazyness.
Ah, but you're thinking of a normal dog. If an area is good for dogwalking, that means we have to avoid it.
True... Well, I'm sure I can think up a few places that are good for dogwalking but rarely used because everyone's in High Park or the Beaches. :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 10:51:00 AM
Remember back aways we were talking about Peter Ustinov's description of Toronto: New York run by the Swiss? There was some discussion about whether it was a compliment or an insult, although most people agreed it was meant as praise.
I think we've gotten our first taste of that. Both our landlord and next-door neighbour filled us in on the recycling laws for the Peel region of Ontario. This is efficiency New York could only dream of. Or scoff at, as the case may be.
[Canadian readers, I'm sure you'll want to go off and do your laundry now.]
All waste is picked up once a week. Recycling is separated, similar to how it's done in New York. But there's a limit on how much non-recycling trash you can leave out: three bags per household. Certain days are unlimited trash days. Those seem to be after most major holidays, including tomorrow, post-Labour Day, so we've moved in at a good time, trash-wise.
Except for those unlimited days, if you leave more than the three-bag limit, you have to buy tags from the city. And apparently, no one ever buys them. The tags cost $1.00 each, and it seems to be anathema to buy more tags. Our neighbour told us that if someone on the block has an extra bag of garbage, they ask around to see if anyone has only two bags, then put their trash in front of that driveway.
This is a huge difference I've long noticed between New Yorkers and Canadians, which I'll get into soon, but not now. For now I'll just say that in New York, if it cost $1.00 to put an extra bag of trash out, people would buy dozens of tags and use them all the time. Counterfeit tags would go for $0.50 on the street corner. Wealthy neighborhoods wouldn't use tags at all, while folks in low-income communities would be rounded up for Tag Violations. Eventually there'd be a revolt, with the populace calling for an end to the draconian Tag Laws.
Now, for all I know there are black-market tags in Mississauga, too, but the way our landlord and neighbour made it sound, if we buy extra tags, we will be branded as freaks.
On the other hand, recycling in New York is a disgrace. NYC was the last major US city to recycle, and it was done in the least logical and most haphazard method possible. When Mayor Bloomberg took office, he suspended the recycling program, claiming it was losing money. (This may have been true, who can say.) Later, public pressure forced him to reinstate it, and it took months for the public to get back to speed.
Huge sections of New York City do not recycle. All the recycling rules can fit on a small poster or pamphlet. US readers, check out these guidelines (and that's just one link). Can you imagine these rules existing in New York? There would be a revolt. The Mayor would be lynched, the City Council run out of town.
Meanwhile, back in Port Credit, we have a lot to learn. Allan has been reading up on how to dispose of the mountain of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape we accumulated, not to mention all the disgusting crap we wrenched out of this house. I'm sure we're going to miss a few tricks this time around, and something tells me our next-door neighbour will be over to educate us.
We thought this was amusing. From the Mississauga Collection Day Checklist:Clear the way for your collection truck. Don't leave hockey nets and basketball posts in the street on your waste collection day.I'll let you know how it goes. Or maybe this is too boring, and I won't.
"new york run by the swiss"
25 Comments -
There are still no major recycling programs in Greece, by that I mean roadside, which is pretty important in major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki.
After living in country villages for two years, I was so hesitant to come to Thessaloniki, remembering the huge trash nightmare that was Athens. Trash just piled on the corners around the mini dumpsters. Obviously not enough mini dumpsters for the neighborhood, but even so, it was amazing how much trash people could generate daily.
How refreshing it is that on our block here in Thessaloniki there are several trash bins all along the street, the garbage truck picks it up once a day, and we rarely have trash problems (aside from the trash my husband I generated when we moved in a month ago!).
Life in Canada sounds really good, aside from a jerky neighbor trying to get your poor Buster in trouble. Unlike you, we just moved from suburbia to the city - its been a month now, and I am not sure I like it. We still have a car, and having a car in the city is sooo not fun. We were fortunate we had a place to park after coming back from our IKEA shopping trip on Saturday. IKEA is a great store, but in Greece it has to cater to the whole northern half the country plus the northern border countries. Busy, busy place.
Anyway, been enjoying reading about all your adventures. Always nice reading other ex-pat experiences.
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:19:00 PM
What a change that must be, living in Greece! Is it a permanent move, or temporary?
Going suburbs to city would be difficult, I think. Are you going to get rid of your car?
I'll check out your blog as soon as I can. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Best of luck to you over there.
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:32:00 PM
That "hockey nets" just kills me!
"And please, please, keep your penguins on a leash!"
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:34:00 PM
"And please, please, keep your penguins on a leash!"
Except in designated off-lease areas, of course.
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:42:00 PM
Ha. I'm glad you are continuing your blog now that you have moved to Canada. I just love reading about your reactions to our "Canadian" lifestyle.
Happy Labour Day!
Monday, September 05, 2005 2:44:00 PM
It's not boring at all to hear about recycling and attitudes toward it in Canada. It even sounds kind of exciting. A friend of mine who moved from DC to New Minas, Nova Scotia also went on and on about the very efficient Canadian recycling system. She couldn't get over it and always mentions it as one of the reasons she'll probably never move back to the US.
Monday, September 05, 2005 3:15:00 PM
I'm glad you are continuing your blog now that you have moved to Canada. I just love reading about your reactions to our "Canadian" lifestyle.
Thanks, Jubileee! I think the blog is more important than ever now - for me, that is. I've got to process this whole thing somehow.
It's not boring at all to hear about recycling and attitudes toward it in Canada.
Cool. :) Thanks Dean.
A friend of mine who moved from DC to New Minas, Nova Scotia also went on and on about the very efficient Canadian recycling system. She couldn't get over it and always mentions it as one of the reasons she'll probably never move back to the US.
It's quite amazing so far. Despite my joking, I'm very pleased to be a part of it.
Monday, September 05, 2005 3:34:00 PM
Hamilton has gone recycling mad!!!
I have three full blue boxes each week now.
We are a family of four and we only have one bag of garbage some weeks. Now we are starting a composting bin campaign too.
Pretty soon there won't be anything left to throw in the garbage.
ALPF
Monday, September 05, 2005 5:10:00 PM
We are a family of four and we only have one bag of garbage some weeks.
That is friggin amazing! Imagine if even half of the US did that!
Pretty soon there won't be anything left to throw in the garbage.
Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing.
Monday, September 05, 2005 5:18:00 PM
Not boring at all, and not exactly the same as the Toronto system. We can put out six bags, and there's no tag system. We alternate, putting out recyclables one week, ordinary garbage the next. The green bin is picked up every week; it contains "wet" garbage like food scraps, used kleenex, paper coffee cups, diapers and kitty litter. It's an incredible system.
Monday, September 05, 2005 6:54:00 PM
I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but Toronto is not all that representative of all of Canada. Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers. They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws.
We're also not too good about recycling out here in Calgary. We do have recycling depots, but no curbside pick-up.
Monday, September 05, 2005 8:40:00 PM
"Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers. They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws."
Wrong Wrong & wrong again
There is no smoking in any Montreal resterants , we put all our rec. in one bin thats is picked up ever other friday & most people like anywhere clean there dogs shit.
Alberta give me a break eh
look ya yahoh you got me sticking up for the french.
Toronto may not be represent all of Canada
but Alberta represens Canada as a fart in the bath tub.Little bubel with alot of stink.
Monday, September 05, 2005 11:34:00 PM
Little Davie, please play nice.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:45:00 AM
I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but Toronto is not all that representative of all of Canada.
Indeed :)
Montrealers, I would guess, are a lot more like New Yorkers.
From what I know of Montreal, that seems right.
They don't like government getting in their face about things like recycling and picking up after their dogs (language laws are the notable exception). They're also not big on anti-smoking laws.
Yeah, New Yorkers have had to cope with people telling them to clean up their pooch poop, put their garbage in separate containers, and stop smoking in bars. And they've adjusted - just like the good people in Montreal - but not without a lot of squabbling. There's little sense of "this is for the public good, so we do it".
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:48:00 AM
Im Sorry Ma
(but he started it)
"They're also not big on anti-smoking laws."
They are us.
Ps I wanted to tell you guys about my faverot spot in the big smoke(great place to walk your dogzilla).
take the 401 to Kennady then go left on the first main street its called Ellsmere.Go one more main street to Brimly take a right.
When you hit the lake your there.
Bluffers Park ,if you havent been there you guys will love it.Sorry for the bad spelling
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 6:32:00 AM
Dave, I lived in Montreal for a lot longer than I've lived in Alberta. My wife is a native Montrealaise. I'm not blowing smoke. If things have improved there since I left, I apologize. On the other hand, much of the charm of Montreal was the "take this law and shove it mentality".
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:00:00 AM
but Alberta represens Canada as a fart in the bath tub.Little bubel with alot of stink.
Right you are, and the sooner we get out and stop carrying half the country on our backs, the happier everyone will be.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:03:00 AM
Here's an aerial photo of Bluffer's Park.
Another favourite spot is The Beaches, home of the Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival every summer. Also the home of Ed's Ice Cream, a great ice cream shop in the tradition of the old Steve's and Herrell's ice cream shops in Boston.
And don't forget High Park!
All good places for a change of scene for dog walking. They all have off-leash areas as well.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:05:00 AM
It is amazing to have been here for all the changes . We still have alot to do but we will get there.
"On the other hand, much of the charm of Montreal was the "take this law and shove it mentality".
Rob I now what you mean about that take this law and shove it mentality& I hate it.
PAY OUR TAXES YA CHEETING BUGGERS.
(sorry 4 yelling)
as 4 that wobaliepop blogger & his tuting bathtub
just good old Canadian teesing we love ya baby
How long have you been gone?
James my man 2 words
Edwards Gardens
(yorkmills & leslie)truly the best parks I have ever romed.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:31:00 AM
I moved to Montreal in '89, left in '98, did my grad studies at McGill and picked up a wife along the way. I still go back for a week every year to visit the in-laws (just got back in fact). I love Montreal. The rest of Quebec? Not so much.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:42:00 AM
"The rest of Quebec? "
Theres monsters in them hills
infact I dont like to go east of StDanie st.. Scarry places .
I so hope Montreal changes to the point where McGill grads & there familys decied to stay here.We need proffectional types now.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 7:56:00 AM
Theres monsters in them hills
infact I dont like to go east of StDanie st.. Scarry places .
I was a unilingual anglo and I lived there during the last referendum, those places were scary. If it wasn't for the 'Spos, I'd never have crossed St. Denis.
If I spoke French, I probably would have stayed, but there was no future for me there then and there's no future for me there now.
Besides, Montreal summers are too hot and humid. The Prairie air agrees with me.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:34:00 AM
All good places for a change of scene for dog walking. They all have off-leash areas as well.
Ah, but you're thinking of a normal dog. If an area is good for dogwalking, that means we have to avoid it.
Buster can never, ever be off his leash, but perhaps Allan will discover a great off-leash area and take Cody Brown for a spin, as he did in our old neighborhood.
Thanks for the tips on Beaches and ice cream. :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:37:00 AM
Rob: "and picked up a wife along the way."
ROFLMAO
Sorry, but the way u said that just brightened my day!
But yes out in Alberta our recycling really does suck... except for one city, Edmonton.
They have implemented a bluebox program that actually makes money now and takes pretty much everything. I don't know very many details, because I don't live there. But a friend of mine does and he says they have really got a good system going that uses a mix of Public and private organizations to get the job done well and within budget. I am looking around for a more detailed outline of their system.
Sadly down South in Lethbridge we have to go to depots to recycle, so a lot of people don't out of lazyness.
Peter
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:39:00 AM
Ah, but you're thinking of a normal dog. If an area is good for dogwalking, that means we have to avoid it.
True... Well, I'm sure I can think up a few places that are good for dogwalking but rarely used because everyone's in High Park or the Beaches. :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005 10:51:00 AM